Single Idea 23817

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 3. Conservatism]

Full Idea

The human soul has need of equality and of hierarchy. Equality is the public recognition …of the principal that an equal degree of attention is due to the needs of all human beings. Hierarchy is the scale of responsibilities.

Gist of Idea

We need both equality (to attend to human needs) and hierarchy (as a scale of responsibilities)

Source

Simone Weil (Draft Statement of Human Obligations [1943], p.228)

Book Reference

Weil,Simone: 'An Anthology' [Penguin 1986], p.228


A Reaction

This is the conservative aspect of Weil's largely radical political thinking. Presumably what we respect in these people is their responsibilies, and not their mere rank. Idle members of the British House of Lords have no rank in this hierarchy.

Related Idea

Idea 23831 The essence of power is illusory prestige [Weil]